tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post6903235005771761301..comments2023-12-15T07:22:02.492-05:00Comments on The Tao of Stieb: If we aren't close then we can't be farTao of Stiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12459135109404905466noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-27219240874126766302011-08-03T09:30:13.074-04:002011-08-03T09:30:13.074-04:00You have to give to get, and securing resources is...You have to give to get, and securing resources is the only job a GM has. AA has been successful at acquiring those resources at all levels of the organization, and when the team is in position to make a push, those resources can be used to address needs.<br /><br />Remember, when the Jays addressed a need at 2nd base by acquiring Robbie Alomar and Joe Carter, it cost them Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez. An HOFer and a productive bat for a player barely beneath the HOF threshold and an All-Star shortstop.<br /><br />It feels like the best time in years to be a Jays fan. Sure, some of these prospects won't work out, but with a core of talent and an arsenal of trade chips, there is no doubt the Jays are in better shape now than they've been since the halcyon years.Anonymikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-60564633822794061252011-08-02T23:31:38.975-04:002011-08-02T23:31:38.975-04:00I like Arencibia a lot, but he's gone when D&#...I like Arencibia a lot, but he's gone when D'Arnaud is ready. However, I can see him playing 1st, and moving Lind instead. But, then again, a monster power bat who is a middling receiver and often a strikeout waiting to happen, I think he will be the one on the block. The Jays will get more dealing him instead of converting him to a catcher/corner infielder utility guy. Traded to where he can start, he would be happier. Make it the National League; with the predominance of little girl arms and cancer bat hitters over there, he'll be a superstar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-31070446772814930652011-08-02T10:12:30.362-04:002011-08-02T10:12:30.362-04:00To clarify, keeping Hill is still a part of a good...To clarify, keeping Hill is still a part of a good strategy unless we can bring up a better SS and move them or Escobar to 2nd.<br /><br />With the numbers Hill has this year, he still ranks among the top 15 of 2nd basemen in offensive and defensive stats in the MLB. <br /><br />Not every single player on a contending or even winning team needs to be a top 10.<br /><br />People need to do a bit of research on second base before they try to further run Aaron Hill out of town.Grocknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-37601946183161977102011-08-02T09:55:39.181-04:002011-08-02T09:55:39.181-04:00@Anonymous Glad you mentioned that about Hill. Th...@Anonymous Glad you mentioned that about Hill. The better second basemen out there are on teams that are hardly going to be giving them up. Do these Hill haters expect the Yankees to trade Cano to us?<br /><br />2nd base has traditionally been one of the weakest offensive positions. Sure we were spoiled by Alomar, but I don't see a spot for Hill.<br /><br />As far as contention is concerned, the Jays are a ways off from that. Yes, I love the moves AA has made (though I am not sold on Rasmus, STL fans hated him, even Pujols had a word about him getting out of STL http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/09/05/pujols-says-colby-rasmus-can-get-out-of-here/)<br /><br />Yes, we can stockpile picks and that is exactly how to land key players when the push is on, but with the starting rotation we have, and the bullpen we have, I don't see that push anytime soon. Romero still cant win against Boston, Morrow still cant win in April - June, Cecil has been brilliant lately but it took another trip to AAA to get that back.<br /><br />Watch the other teams, and as much as I love the Jays, these moves don't make us contenders yet. <br /><br />I would love to eat these words though!Grocknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-8010218362044257312011-08-01T18:37:06.750-04:002011-08-01T18:37:06.750-04:00Kelly Johnson is a 4 WAR capable 2B on the FA mark...Kelly Johnson is a 4 WAR capable 2B on the FA market next year. He's having a down year so he could be a good cheap pickup.<br /><br />Also, Chino Vega is the 2B of the future for the Jays!<br /><br />19 yo in the GCL picked in the 28th round of the 2011 draft! Still has a long way to go but great pick by the Jays!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-17282090377822368212011-07-31T14:57:42.116-04:002011-07-31T14:57:42.116-04:00Position players maybe it's time, but the Jays...Position players maybe it's time, but the Jays still have vary little in the way of quality pitching. Lots of pitchers, yes, but quality pitching? Maybe that's what they trade for.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11933150363003003531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-25578885675717734562011-07-31T10:35:47.877-04:002011-07-31T10:35:47.877-04:00Move Hill and replace him with what exactly? Ther...Move Hill and replace him with what exactly? There's not a lot out there on the trade market, and our farm system doesn't have a MLB ready 2B, or a MLB ready SS to push Escobar to 2nd.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-17000157512483989552011-07-31T09:13:44.178-04:002011-07-31T09:13:44.178-04:00It will be very interesting to see what direction ...It will be very interesting to see what direction this team goes in next season and beyond. Personally, I don't think AA is ready to start selling off prospects, simply because the core of the Jays is so young. Outside of Bautista, every starting position player is under 30 years old, with many (Snider, Rasmus, Lawrie, Arencibia, Thames) being around the 25 year threshold. There are so many question marks that it's hard to make decisions on players. Will Snider find his stroke in the majors? Will Rasmus regain his? Is Arencibia the catcher of the future, or is he a Mike Napoli-type player? These are all reasonable questions that only time can answer.<br />Until we see what our young core is capable of, I don't think you should start moving prospects for a "sure thing" player. Move Hill though. Please, move Hill.Olerude Boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-87478096155637014392011-07-31T08:00:37.344-04:002011-07-31T08:00:37.344-04:00I like Arencibia as much as the next guy but unles...I like Arencibia as much as the next guy but unless you want a 300 OBP catcher, he's the guy you want to flip, and not D'Arnaud.Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-12998233951421771982011-07-31T03:02:06.555-04:002011-07-31T03:02:06.555-04:00I think we have to distinguish between high-ceilin...I think we have to distinguish between high-ceiling prospects and high-reliability prospects. AA loves the former and is not as fond of the latter - which is probably why he traded Wallace for Gose, and was happy to throw Stewart into the Jackson/Rasmus deals. D'Arnaud falls into the former camp, I think; he's got an almost identical ISO to Arencibia same-age year at New Hampshire, but with superior defence and a far better eye at the plate. Arencibia is a potential all-star; d'Arnaud is a potential perennial all-star. I think it would take a Ben Zobrist-level talent coming back for AA to give up one of his blue-chip, high-ceiling prospects.<br />Of course, we have other good prospects, like Deck McGuire, who we can easily anticipate being a good big-league starter, but who is difficult to picture as an ace. McGuire I think fits the mold of the tradeable prospect far better than d'Arnaud or Gose.gabrielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14807352308804721979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-62740879949503725842011-07-31T01:47:23.821-04:002011-07-31T01:47:23.821-04:00I don't think we are quite there unless you ar...I don't think we are quite there unless you are adding a special case, preferably one who's who's 25 or less. Rasmus was such a case but there are not a lot of opportunities like that out there. This time next year, if all develops well, I think we may well be.<br /><br />Plus - we'll know more about how the development track is going on several of the key guys.The Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12978086362601077757noreply@blogger.com